February 26-27, 2021, Online

The upcoming annual diocesan convention will be held virtually in February 2021. Preliminary information for lay and clergy delegates was emailed to church leadership earlier this month. Visit our Diocesan Convention Hub for the latest information and details. We have just added new information!

Lay and clergy delegates may now make nominations here for Standing Committee members.

February 26, 6pm-7:30pm CST: Opening Service and Bishop's Address. Everyone will watch via livestream on our website, YouTube, or Facebook.

February 27, 9am-1pm CST: Convention Business Sessions. Convention members (clergy and lay delegates) will join via Zoom. All others will watch via livestream on our website, YouTube, or Facebook.

NOTE: The Pre-Convention Meeting for lay and clergy delegates will be held online via Zoom on Sunday January 31, at 4pm CST. Details and a link to join the meeting will be emailed to registered delegates on January 27.

Authored by: Mary Mullins Reddit

In our virtual conversation with Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Director Bryan Stevenson and Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Michael Curry in December to celebrate the Diocese’s 50th anniversary, the theme was remembrance and mercy.

Stevenson shared with us that he lives in the tradition of his formerly enslaved grandparents who embraced Jesus to live with love and forgiveness instead of with hatred and a need for revenge against those who had enslaved them. Those who tuned in, or know of Stevenson’s work to represent the condemned and marginalized, cannot help but be struck by the love, joy and peace he exudes while serving in the most difficult and heartbreaking work imaginable.

Authored by: Lee Dorsey

I have worked as a therapist for almost 35 years and for about 33 of them I have primarily served children/youth who are in the custody of the State of Alabama – foster children – as well as youth who have been involved with the juvenile justice system and their families (biological, foster, adoptive, etc.). Most recently, I worked at St. Mary’s Home as a residential therapist for children/youth who could not live in a regular foster home due to the need for treatment and behavioral interventions.

When St. Mary’s closed abruptly in September 2020, I spoke with Father Heard about the possibility of using the former Thee Store space to open a private practice. Father Heard took my request to the vestry and they graciously approved. Since that time Kristen Turner and I have worked hard (with the help of friends) to renovate the space and create an office that will be a safe healing place for people in need.

Gulf Coast Creation Care is offering a 40-Day Creation Care Challenge calendar which you are invited to use for your Lenten discipline this year.

Download a printable 8-1/2x11" calendar, or sign up for daily updates and reminders throughout Lent at info@gulfcoastcreationcare.org.

If you would like to receive an editable Word document of this calendar (ex. a couple of the suggested links are specifically for Alabama and you may wish to substitute different links), contact info@gulfcoastcreationcare.org and request the document.

Visit Gulf Coast Creation Care on the web.

We will again be participating in the 2021 Good Book Club, January 1 – February 16. Bishop Russell will be sharing weekly reflections on the Gospel of Mark. The readings can be found at www.goodbookclub.org.

Video reflections will be released the Thursday prior to the following week’s readings and available on our website here. Videos are suitable for individual or group study. Questions on how to host a Good Book Club at your church, contact Sally Crenshaw at crenshs@cox.net.

Happening, an annual youth retreat lead by the youth, originally scheduled for February of 2021, has been rescheduled and will take place at Beckwith. Open to teens in grades 10, 11 and 12. Registration is now open.

Lay Rector: Sarah Garner. Head Gofer: Graybill Partington.

March 26-28: Youth Staff Training. Register here.

April 9-11: Happening Weekend. Register here.

Registration is open. Staff applications are being accepted. Visit Beckwith's website for information on dates, rates and tiered pricing system.

The Rev. Kammy Young's Transition - READ

The following is a transcript of the opening remarks of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, currently meeting virtually through January 25.

Read more (In English and Spanish): https://tinyurl.com/y6y3ahvw

Tell Me Something Good, a new web series from The Episcopal Church, highlights positive stories from around the church through conversations with a variety of guests. New episodes of Tell Me Something Good will be released every two weeks. Episodes 1-6 are available for viewing on The Episcopal Church website here, on Facebook here, and on Instagram TV, @theepiscopalchurch.

In this sixth episode of Tell Me Something Good, hosts Jerusalem and Marcus chat with the Rev. Canon Broderick Greer and Evans Ousley, both from St. John's Cathedral in Denver, Colorado, about how their staff has learned to shift gears and work both more broadly and more specifically during Covid-19.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/y6qwpahg.

Upcoming Ordinations - Your prayers and virtual presence are requested

The Rev. Deacon David Clothier

St. Johns, Warrington FL | Wednesday, January 27, 6pm

The Rev. Deacon Lydia Johnson

Trinity, Mobile AL | Saturday, January 30, 11am

The Rev. Deacon John Talbert

St. Paul’s, Daphne | Tuesday, February 2, 6pm

The Rev. Deacon Mike Ballard

St. Paul’s, Mobile | Saturday, February 13, 11am

The Rev. Deacon Robert Donnell

All Saints, Mobile AL | TBD

Now - February 25

Remember to keep logging your miles! We are taking a virtual trip around the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast! Engage your mind, soul and body, and learn about our diocese and our beloved Camp Beckwith. Our mission takes us about 540 miles from Beckwith and back, highlighting each of our 62 churches along the way.

The mission runs now until Diocesan Convention.

FULL DETAILS | DOWNLOAD FAQ FLYER

A unique opportunity in early care and education is available! St. John’s Episcopal Church is looking for an experienced, high energy individual to become the founding Director of the St. John’s Children’s Center. This full day, full year program will provide care to infants and toddlers (6 weeks to 3 years) in a relationship-based environment. The founding Director will help design the classrooms and playground, recruit and hire staff and lead marketing and enrollment efforts. This full time position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

2021 cycles of prayer are available on our website at www.diocgc.org/cycle-of-prayer.

Coastline is a biweekly publication of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE - deadlines are 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month

SUBMIT AN EVENT - posted on our website each Friday

Direct questions to communications@diocgc.org